2011 Salary Negotiation Tactics - Slide 2

Find out whether your firm or the new company is growing and optimistic, said Michael Crom, chief learning officer at Dale Carnegie Training. If your company is just keeping its head above water, he notes, asking for a raise or pressing the hiring manager to increase the starting salary might not be realistic.

As 2011 progresses, experts are hinting at a better climate for the economy, employment and even salary negotiations. Recent surveys indicate a growing number of employers are concerned that their top talent might leave when the economy improves. The result: More employers are willing to negotiate on salary than they have been since the Great Recession.

If you’re looking for a raise at your current gig, or hoping to get more out of a salary negotiation with a new employer, you may have more leverage in 2011 than 2010 and the preceding two years.

To get the most out of the opportunity requires that you use some updated tactics, said several salary experts. This slideshow highlights The Ladders' six-step process to get the most out of a 2011 salary negotiation.